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Friday, December 4, 2015

Grade Update

I wanted to let you know that power school will not let me in.  I am so frustrated because I wanted to get  grades done this weekend!  It is all I wanted to do! 

Never mind!  I just tried - hoping, and it let me in!  I don't know what was happening?  But I am so HAPPY Power School let me in!

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Deeply Rooted


Tonight was the performance of Deeply Rooted Dance Company.  They are inspired by African American dancing and storytelling. It was a powerful statement and expressions of major themes in today's world!  I was so glad I went, and it was amazing what they did with their bodies!  They made it look easy!

Here are two numbers we saw:




Monday, November 2, 2015

Homecoming 2015 - We Are Booker T!

Last week was a fun and eventful week, and we won in the last 15 seconds with a field goal - 17 to 14!!! Here are my pics from each day!

Superhero Day! I was Jack Bauer from 24!


My favorite person! Mrs. G was a doctor!

I saw these girls posing - so I had to get a pic too!

Incredible were popular!

Red, White, and Blue Day -  I loved their costumes!  

My favorite 90s ever!  They were perfect!

These guys looked great for decades day!

Teachers were suppose to dress they would have in high school - I was a 90s kid!

Thursday we got to dress up for Mr. and Miss Hornet!

Got this one from Mrs. Walker - So happy for Leona!


I was the Class Sponsor of 2010, and we had a mini 5 year reunion!  I love these people!!!




Outrageous Orange and Black Day!!!!

Had to get my photo with Coach D.!

Miss Hornet - Love this girl!!!!

2010 - Made my day when they walked into my room!

One of my favorite doors!




















Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Behaviors not goals!


I love goal setting!  I truly believe you need to set goals for your self!  And work towards them.  You cannot just get what you want by saying it.  You need to work hard!  And there are always people out there who are willing to work harder!  I love this speaker's approach.  You need to focus on your behaviors to achieve your goals!  This is real insight!

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Colonial Unity


I want my students to think like  historians! When talking about the American Revolution - many historians wonder when colonial unity happened?  For the colonists to win they had to be united!  They defeated the greatest military power in the world at that time (1783).  

Many point to the Albany Plan during the French and Indian War.  Under Mercantilism the colonies got free protection from England.  They never had to protect themselves.  They were not trained or ready, but now the war is being fought in their own back yard.  Could they defend themselves?  Albany Plan is called to help unite the colonies.  There Ben Franklin introduces his Join or Die Cartoon.  Telling the colonies they must unite, or die!  The snake  represents the colonies.  At that moment the were in pieces  and they needed to come together!

It worked because they won!  But then the Road to the Revolution happened!  To what extent were they united?  Upset with England definitely brought them together, but they were divided on what they wanted to accomplish.  The central question was could the colonies govern themselves?  A great scene from The Patriot debates whether they should declare independence?  Mel Gibson quotes Mather Boyles, "Is it better to be ruled by one tyrant 3,000 miles away, or 3,000 tyrants  one mile a way?" 




Sunday, October 11, 2015

We take America For Granted


I heard this speech this weekend, and it spoke to me!  The two main cops from Dragnet are talking to two teenagers who want to start a new country.  They remind them about the country they live in!  It is not perfect, but better than most!  They give them situations to ponder!  We have no idea how great we have it!  And it is the responsibility of every generation to make it better for the next!  What amazes me this was almost 40 years ago!  These thoughts from the younger generation never change! 

Friday, October 2, 2015

An AMAZING Opportunity!


Last week the C.I.A came to Booker T. during Activity Period.  They DO NOT come to schools, but they come to our school because Booker T is known!  They take the tie to come, and tell you about an amazing opportunity!

The C.I.A. has an under grad scholarship.  The requirements are:

You have to be 18 by April
Have a 3.5 GPA

Those are the ones they discussed.  If you get this scholarship you are an employee of the C.I.A.  They pay you $30, 000 a year for going to school.  You get a paycheck every two weeks plus benefits.  Then they pay for college!  Do you get that?!  That is amazing!  There are so many opportunities out there - you just ave to find them!

So if you are a freshman - you know what is expected!  Work hard!  Check out the scholarship online.  Look around!





Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Back To School Night


Tomorrow night is Back to School Night!  I hope all can come!  It starts at 5:30 in the auditorium, and then you will follow your student's schedule.  So if you come, and I hope you do!  Get your child's schedule so you can follow it!  See you tomorrow night!


Monday, September 7, 2015

Happy Labor Day!!!!


Study Tip


This is most of what I've graded this weekend!  I have more!  I am trying really hard to stay on top of your grades!  Your grade is important to me!   While I was grading I became very present to something - I was reminded of something.

I have a study tip.  Mainly for APUSH, but anyone can do this!  Be prepared!  When you get work - make it into flash cards or whatever you need!  For all my classes I do NOT have you do busy work.  All your homework will help you.  So don't wait till the test to study it!  Study it now!

When I was in my first year of college - we had no homework.  We didn't do anything till October.  This was strange to me, and I noticed.  But then it happened.  About Mid October every teacher said we would have a midterm over the first 20 chapters plus their lecture.  WHAT!!!!  I only had two nights to study.  I was freaking out!  

I never wanted to experience that again!  So after I survived those tests -  I would make flashcards of my notes every time after class.   I learned in high school I am a flashcard girl!   Every  time I used them I would pass the test!

High school is a great time to learn how you learn!



Sunday, September 6, 2015

TED Talk

Today I saw a GREAT and NEW TED Talk!  I had to share!  It is all about making life easy and beautiful!  I think we forget that!  Life is what you make it!  Do not make it difficult!  There is no point, and others might look at you like you are crazy, but who cares!  It is your life!  Make it easy!  This speaker offers real wisdom!


Monday, August 24, 2015

On The Road


This story will make you smile, and it is a reminder that we can choose our attitude no matter the situation!

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Change Over Time - Historical Thinking Skills Practice

If you are in my APUSH class you need to practice looking at Change Over Time.  This is one of the Historical Thinking Skills that could be used on the APUSH exam.  I encourage you to practice seeing change over time.  The examples below are not historical, but with historical content you will do the same thing.  With the examples below it might seem like the similarities and differences are easy to see, but if you can do it here you can do it with APUSH!  Takes Practice, Practice, Practice!

Old and new cellphones - can you see change over time?




This week we looked at Period 1.  One thin I became present to this morning is a great change over time topic - Navigation.  In Period 1 you must know the improvements to technology Europeans made which allowed them come to the New World.  Since the begging humans have wanted to master navigation!  What has stayed the same, and what has changed?









Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Study Tips

I found these pictures, and they are great reminders.


I  know it is shocking, but most of the times teachers know when you are looking at your phone!  So do not be surprised!  Phones are a huge distraction!     It is ok to be away from it for a length of a class!  I heard a student say last year that when she does homework she puts her phone away because it is too distracting!  And I would guess you would get your homework done faster if you did that!


It always surprises me how many students turn in a paper with no name!  Before you turn in a paper - make sure your name is on it!


Monday, July 27, 2015

French and Indian War


One cannot discuss the American Revolution until you mention the French and Indian War, or the Seven Years War from 1754 to 1763.  This moment leads to the unfair taxes (the colonists thought) that England enacts.  England protects her colonists from the French and her Native American allies.  

Under mercantilism the British colonies got free protection from England the mother country.  Which ends up being a great thing because the colonists had no military experience.  Up to this point they never had to protect themselves. So when competition and conflict arises over the Ohio River Valley the colonists were not prepared for what was about to happen.

In an AP history class you do not have to focus on military history.  So you do not need to know about specific battles.  Just what led to the conflict, and the outcome and impact.  In the New World Europeans competed and fought over land.  There was dispute over the Ohio River Valley between England and France.  So England took charge.


They sent a young militia commander by the name of George Washington to tell the French the Ohio River Valley belonged to them!  What is interesting about the French and Indian War is the appearance of our Founding Fathers.  We will also meet Benjamin Franklin.  When Washington arrived with  the message from the British the French were not happy!  They did not lay down and let the British take it.  The French fought back!  The Ohio River Valley was very fertile land, and provided land that could grow crops!  That is why both countries wanted it.

Luckily no one was hurt when the French fired at the British, but both sides went back to their headquarters and told them they were at the war!  The title of this war is confusing!  It was not the French against the Indians.  It was the French and Indians against the British.  Historically the French were kinder to the Native Americans.  So when this war erupted the Native Americans sided with the French!


The problem early on was the colonists, and their ability to unite.  So the Albany Plan was called to help unite the colonies!  Benjamin Franklin presented the Join or Die cartoon, and it did what it was intended to do.  It united the colonies, and England won!  Franklin represented the colonies as a snake.  And divided it up.  Each piece of the snaked represents a colony.  And basically says if we do not come together we will die and be defeated.  This image has made an impact and is still being used.  In 2008 P Diddy tried to get young people to vote.  His slogan was Vote or Die.


At  the end England acquired new land and war debt.  They needed a way to help pay back the deb t and be prepared for future conflicts.  This will lead directly to the Road to Revolution.



Sunday, July 26, 2015

TED Talk


This is a GREAT talk!  You get real life wisdom!  Tai Lopez  has learned so much about the business world, and has so much to share!  Watch, and you will learn!

Saturday, July 18, 2015

TED Talk


This is a great TED Talk that talks about success, and how to achieve it!  You will learn so much, and it also addresses fear.  How fear controls us, and how to get over it!  You can be successful!  Your thoughts create your world! 

Thursday, July 16, 2015

What Makes Us Civilized?


This is always fun to discuss in class!  Especially World History and Oklahoma History.  The other classes it is already established and really does not need to be discussed.  What makes us civilized?  Are we civilized?  It is a fun question to ponder!  And I love what answers you the students come up with!  The obvious answers always come up.

A civilized person is someone who dresses, has personal hygiene  and is articulate.  We all have different ideas of what it means to be civilized, and it is fun to discuss.  After teaching this I notice it comes up in society.  One day my class was looking at ISIS, and a student said they are not civilized!  I found that response fascinating!  What makes them uncivilized?  I agree with that statement, but I want my students to be able to articulate their positions.

One of my favorite movies is Argo!  It is about when Iran took the Americans hostage in the 1970s, and 6 got out.  So the C.I.A. sends in Tony Mendez to save them!  It is SO GOOD, and I watch the trailer periodically, and I noticed something one time when I watched it.  President Carter says Iran has shocked a civilized world.  I thought that was an interesting set of words!  I do think we have expectations of people,  groups, and countries.



No matter what you think makes people civilized - history has a definitions  They say a group is civilized if they have these things:
A Belief System
Governments
Arts
Architecture
Jobs
Military

Do you notice it is not defined.  History just says a Belief System and Government.  History does not say which is the right one!  That I believe is hard for us because we are attached to our government, belief system, and etc.  But that is what is great about the world!  There are so many options!  And one is not better than the other!


When you see conflict of this ide of what is civilized and not civilized - it is when two cultures collide!  The best example of that is when the Europeans and Native Americans met.  They did not understand each other!  The Native Americans were curious about the Europeans and the strange tools they had, but the Europeans wrote them off.  They  said they were uncivilized savages!  They said that because their life and society was completely different than theirs.  They did not understand them!  And because of that they said they were uncivilized.

But accordfng to the historical definition they were civilized because they had everything on the list.  Sadly for them the European technology was better, and it allowed them to overpower the Native American population.   So I end my lesson with a throwback to childhood.  Pocahontas Colors of the Wind.  Everything she sings in that song to John Smith is perfect!


  

Friday, July 3, 2015

AP Essay Writing

 
Essay writing is over half of the APUSH test.  You cannot pass the exam without passing the writing portions.  Below is a description of each writing and portion, and some tips!  In my class you will be practicing essay writing.  You will be writing an essay every two weeks plus write a short answer every week!  You must practice, practice, practice!  I do not want you to be surprised on test day!  The most important thing when writing an APUSH essay is answer the prompt!  Many in the APUSH world say AP does not stand for Advanced Placement, but Answer the Prompt!  That is so important I put it on my wall by the thinking skills!
 
 
I will go in order of what you will see on the Exam.  First is the Multiple Choice section then Short Answer (part B).  Remember College Board knows your phone and computer can tell you any answer!  So they want you to be a historian!  That is why there is a large emphasis on writing, and they have added this part - Short Answers.
 
You will have 4 questions to answer with 3 parts.  You must answer ALL parts.  You do not have to develop a thesis.  You may write in bullet points, but in complete sentences.  You will also have limited space.  You will have 23 lines, and 45 minutes.  Again each question may or may not come with a stimuli (chart, image, or graph).  Here is an example of a short answer:
Answer a,b, and c:
a. Briefly explain ONE example of how contact between Native Americans and Europeans brought changes to Native American societies in the period 1492 to 1700.
and etc.
 
Section 2 - Part A is the Document Based Question or D.B.Q
Now you really have to use AP - Answer the Prompt, and have a good thesis!  Having a good thesis is everything!  Your thesis tells the reader where you are going!  For your thesis you must use the exact words from the prompt!  There is no reason to think of new words for the American Civil War.  Use those words, but it is not restating the prompt because the other part of thesis writing is answer the question.  The essay prompt will ask a question, and you must answer it, and include your groupings.
 
 
A fun activity to do in class is divide the class into groups.  Give each group a bag of random candy, and tell them to put the candy into 3 groups.  The obvious groups are decided.  List all the groups on the board, Then tell the groups to come up with new groupings, but you cannot use any of the groups listed on the board.  That is when groups become very creative!  This is what you must do for your essay!  Look at all the information, and come up with at least 2 groupings.  Try to be generic so you can be more detailed in your essay.  If this seems overwhelming - don't worry we'll practice in class!
 
When writing your D.B.Q. brainstorm first!  See what you know about the topic before you read the documents.  Most students like the D.B.Q most of all because College Board gives you enough information in the documents to answer the prompt.  But they know that - so with the D.B.Q  the College Board will be looking at Outside Information.  That is why it is smart to brainstorm first!
 
The D.B.Q will have one of the following Historical Thinking Skills as their focus causation, continuity and change over time, comparison, interpretation, and periodization.  You will have 55 minutes to write your D.B.Q.  Many say you should plan for 15 minutes and write for 40 minutes.
 
The rubrics are core rubrics!  There is very specific things they are looking for!  Here is the rubric.  If you have these things - they have to give you the points!  Max points 7 points.  I am going to tell you the highest points possible because that is what you should be shooting for.  You will also be getting a copy of these rubrics! 
1. Thesis - 1 point
2. Analysis of historical evidence and the support of arguments - 4 points
a. Analysis of ALL the documents and relate back to your thesis and discuss one of the following for ALL documents:
1. Intended Audience
2. Author's Point of View
3. Purpose
4. Historical Context
We will do these four things every time we analyze documents!
b. Include Outside Information Analysis - 1 point 
3. Contextualization - 1 point
4. Synthesis - 1 point
a. Conclusion - restate your thesis
 
This is a GREAT video!
 
Section 2 Part B: Long Essay
 
When you see your prompt, and the great thing about the Long Essay is you WILL have choice!  You will choose between 2 prompts.  One will be early American History, and the other will be later American History.  When you choose your prompt you need to read it 3 TIMES!  Why 3?  That way you answer the whole prompt!  An APUSH essay prompt will most likely be very detailed and complex!  You need to Answer the Whole Prompt!
 
Do everything we discussed in the D.B.Q - write a Thesis Statement, Brainstorm, and Groupings.  When we write a long essay in class it will be great to brainstorm because it will be a great review!  The Long Essay Rubric will really depend on what Historical Skill you are using!  You must know them!  Max Points - 6 points.  Here is the Long Essay Rubric:
 
1. Thesis - 1 point
2. Support for the argument/thesis - 2 points
a. Must use adequate amount of historical evidence
3. Application of targeted historical thinking skills - 2 points
a. Continuity and Change Over Time - Must do BOTH and have analysis
This is a great video showing change over time!
b. Comparison - MUST show similarity and difference and have analysis
c. Causation - Shows BOTH Cause and Effect and Analysis
d. Periodization - Show how it was similar and different before and after the period stated and analysis
4. Synthesis - 1 Point
a. Again your Conclusion with a restated thesis
 
With all the essays there is NO DOUBLE DIPPING!
 
 
 

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Strict vs. Loose Construction

 
As soon as the US Constitution was written the men who wrote it were divided over how to interpret it!  Even now there is much disagreement on how to interpret the Constitution.  Now we have a Supreme Court that gets the awesome power of interpreting the Constitution.  Americans must accept what the Supreme Court declares even if we do not like what they rule.  This is called Judicial Review!
 
In the beginning of our country the principle of Judicial Review had not been established.  It was not till 1803 with the Supreme Court Case of Marbury v. Madison that this principle was established.  So till that year our Founding Fathers were divided over the meaning of the Constitution.
 
 
Many had different ideas of how to interpret the Constitution.  Should it be a loose or strict interpretation or construction?  One good thing I believe is the Founding Father wrote the Constitution with vague words.  But it made it hard to interpret the Constitution   The language was not clear.  Here are two things that happened because of the division.
 
One political parties were created.  The division became so fierce that many took sides.  Those sides became the first political parties.  The Republican party was headed up by Thomas Jefferson, and the Federalist party was headed up by Alexander Hamilton.  Hamilton and Jefferson despised each other.  Jefferson believed it should be a strict interpretation while Hamilton believed it should be a loose interpretation.  President Washington tried to stay away from this division.  He hated the idea of political parties.
 
He even warned Americans in his Farewell Address.  He said, The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism."
 
Ultimately he favored Hamilton and the loose construction of the US Constitution.  That is the second thing that happened.  The loose interpretation wins!  Surprisingly Jefferson switched sides and made the loose interpretation the American way. It happened because of the Louisiana Purchase.
 
I like that you can see what North America looked like in 1803.
 
Jefferson is now President, and gets the opportunity to buy the Louisiana Purchase from Napoleon. He was broke, and needed money.  Napoleon sold it for 15 million dollars!  That was a steal!  As my Mother says you cannot beat that with a stick!  Historians called it the real estate deal of the century!  Jefferson knew that, and wanted to act!  But he could not!  He was strict construction.  Jefferson believed you followed the U.S. Constitution to a tee.  No where in the Constitution does it say a President can buy land from another head of state.
 
Jefferson wrote in a private journal, and it is great for historians!  We know his inner dialogue!  Ultimately he switched positions.  It was too good of a deal to pass up!  So now America has a loose interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.
  
 

Monday, June 29, 2015

Equality Wins!

 
Oh my goodness!  I was with my family when I heard the news!  We all started cheering, and even began crying!  This makes my heart so happy!  Gay marriage has not been an issue of morality, but an issue of rights being denied!  American Citizens were being denied their rights!  And that made me so mad!  I always knew the Supreme Court would have to decide!  They are the Supreme Law of the land!  We have to accept their decision no matter what!  This is HISTORY!!!
 
I love Harvey Milk!  I know he is dancing in Heaven!  He was an early champion for Gay Rights!  But ultimately he was an activist for all!  He wanted all to have their rights!
 
Here is the Real Milk, and I LOVE this speech!

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Protestant Reformation

 
During the Renaissance Europeans started doing something they have never done before!  They started to question the Catholic Church!  The Catholic Church controlled Europe!  They were not only the faith, but the government!  They told you how to believe, and made you tithe!  It was a tax expected from everybody!  During this time if you lived in Europe you HAD to be a Christian!  If you weren't the Church KILLED you!  That always boggles my mind!
 
All of sudden people got the strength to question the church!  This had never happened before up to this point.  The Church had so much power and might no one was brave enough to question them!  Then in 1517 Martin Luther did a huge thing that will affect the world! 
 
He had big problems with the Catholic Church!  Now he did not want to create new sects of the Christian faith.  Martin Luther wanted to reform the Church.  His biggest problem was Indulgencies!  They were a piece of paper that you could buy that would guarantee you a place in heaven.
 
An Indulgency
 
Martin Luther believed this was a scam!  The Church would come into a town square, and put on a show.  They would try to put fear into people, and scare them into buying an Indulgence.  They would sell them for pennies because they wanted the peasants of Europe to buy them, and they did!  With the money the Church would build the great Cathedrals of Europe!  Below is a great scene from a movie about Martin Luther and Indulgencies.  It is called Luther.
 
 
So Martin Luther did something about his feelings towards Indulgencies.  We all are upset about stuff, and complain about it.  But do we do anything about it?  Most of the time no!  Martin Luther did something about his feelings.  He wrote out his 95 problems with the Catholic Church, and posted them on the Wittenberg Church door.  He chose the Church door because it would have been the center of town, and everyone would have seen them.  Now historians call his 95 problems - the 95 Theses.  This one action caused a wave of reaction.
 
 
The Church freaked out!  Because Luther questioned the Church.  Luther was arrested, and was tried as a heretic!  He was found guilty, but not killed.  He was exiled because he would not recant.  After he was exiled - he was done with the movement.  But others wanted to keep going.  Many believed Luther did not go far enough.
 
Ultimately a break is going to happen.  People will begin Protestant churches.  Before  this moment the only option was the Catholic Church.  Now there is options, and I always think Americans should be so grateful for Martin Luther.  We would not have all of our churches if it was not for Martin Luther and the action he took!  This is a huge moment in World History!
 
There are Puritans because of the Protestant Reformation!  They were in England, and formed because of the Protestant Reformation.
 
 

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